A major import data discrepancy has raised concerns after the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a difference of $11 billion over the past two years and nearly $30 billion over five years. The revelation came during a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce.
Chief Statistician Dr. Naeem-uz-Zafar told the committee that the issue stems from conflicting figures between two sub-agencies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). PBS relies on data provided by the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL), which has limited access compared to the Pakistan Single Window system.
Dr. Naeem explained that the Pakistan import data discrepancy arose due to inconsistencies between PRAL and Single Window figures. However, the Ministry of Commerce assured lawmakers that the difference has not affected the country’s balance of payments. Officials stated that it is a statistical, not financial, problem that can be resolved through proper reconciliation.
Committee Chairman Muhammad Jawed Hanif Khan directed that a reconciled position be prepared in coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and relevant institutions to ensure consistency in official trade data. Officials noted that all import data is now being consolidated through the Pakistan Single Window system to prevent such discrepancies in the future.
The matter was also raised during recent economic review discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Meanwhile, brokerage firm Chase Securities highlighted a $1 billion gap between figures from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and PBS.